Tape stuck in VCR

L

Live Bait McKinney

Guest
(First, if you want to contact me by email, pls send to
brotherdave@bigfoot.com -- never check yahoo.)

Greetings! Common problem. Tape stuck in the VCR.

Trying to avoid the $80 repair shop or $20 service manual (parts lists
and schematics only).

Symptoms:
Turn on the power -- motor spins then stops.
Hit eject - first time, "EJECT" appears on screen but no motor or
eject.
Every time after that, no "EJECT" on screen, no sound of motor
spinning.
Same using remote control or front panel.

Tried unplugging power cable... and back in. Same story.

This is one of the TV/VCR combos (Panasonic PVQ-2512 -- similiar to
PVQ-1312W, PVQ-2012. Bought Dec 2002 - now 5 months out of warranty.
Repair cost is $80 (minimum charge) at the local authorized station.
It's not worth that much to me since this is a 2-head and stand-alone
4-head VCR's are that price or lower.


~~~~~~~~~~~

For others looking at a Panasonic TV/VCR combo unit, I'll give you
some feedback from my own use of this one -- Purchased Dec 2002 -- low
usage for past 17 months.

I almost returned this the first day because, after taking it out and
setting it up, I found out you can't watch one channel and record
another. Since this is one of the main reasons for buying a VCR, I
should've taken it back and gotten the TV only version. Wish they had
stated that on the box. "Marketing communications" at work. Decided to
keep it and get a 2nd VCR for copying tapes, etc.

About the TV, the CRT picture is great - no complaints there. Sound is
good and there are jacks on the front panel.

When you switch channels with the remote, there is a 1/4-second
black-out which is OK during the day, hard on the eyes in a dark room.

But (and this is a big butt) I have had it 17 months, little VCR use
and, besides the tape mechanism problem, when you start to record, the
tape rewinds about 3-minutes of tape, then starts, so, unless you let
the tape run an extra 3 minutes, you can chop off the last 3 minutes
of the previous program. The way I look at it, this is one of those
"it's a pain but you get used to" problems.

The remote control is not intuitive, like their other products. I have
never had trouble learning or using many other VCRs, including my last
Panasonic, but (another big butt) this one is not very user friendly.
The buttons are not logically grouped, etc. etc. If everything else
was OK, probably would just buy a universal remote.

What else.... Panasonic usually makes such great products -- I am
still amazed at the problems with this one. I notice this one was made
in Mexico - doubt that makes any difference on the design though. I
have a Samslung TV (1992) made in Mexico that takes a licking and
keeps on ticking.
 
Common problem was the drive rack/cam gear wearing. It's not a do it yourself
repair.
The model you got is a pretty good combo. No combo ever built can record one
channel while you watch another because they only have one tuner, so you can't
blame Panasonic for that.
The main problem with any combo is the VCR. Stay with separate components for
better reliability.
Ron

(First, if you want to contact me by email, pls send to
brotherdave@bigfoot.com -- never check yahoo.)

Greetings! Common problem. Tape stuck in the VCR.

Trying to avoid the $80 repair shop or $20 service manual (parts lists
and schematics only).

Symptoms:
Turn on the power -- motor spins then stops.
Hit eject - first time, "EJECT" appears on screen but no motor or
eject.
Every time after that, no "EJECT" on screen, no sound of motor
spinning.
Same using remote control or front panel.

Tried unplugging power cable... and back in. Same story.

This is one of the TV/VCR combos (Panasonic PVQ-2512
 
All depends how much you value your tape. You can attempt taking it out
yourself and risk damaging the tape and mechanism further or cut to the
chase and pay to have it done for you. A combo units from the FUNAI to the
other classic brands like Brocksonic, Zenith, Sharp, Panasonic, et al fin,
will tend to have mechanical problems far before they have electrical
failures. Due to the fact that most all vcr mechanisms are basically plastic
and do break with even moderate use. As far as the features of the product
you willingly purchased, all combo units use a single tuner.
"Live Bait McKinney" <kudzuquartetridesagin@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4f45a720.0405180918.30d0f912@posting.google.com...
(First, if you want to contact me by email, pls send to
brotherdave@bigfoot.com -- never check yahoo.)

Greetings! Common problem. Tape stuck in the VCR.

Trying to avoid the $80 repair shop or $20 service manual (parts lists
and schematics only).

Symptoms:
Turn on the power -- motor spins then stops.
Hit eject - first time, "EJECT" appears on screen but no motor or
eject.
Every time after that, no "EJECT" on screen, no sound of motor
spinning.
Same using remote control or front panel.

Tried unplugging power cable... and back in. Same story.

This is one of the TV/VCR combos (Panasonic PVQ-2512 -- similiar to
PVQ-1312W, PVQ-2012. Bought Dec 2002 - now 5 months out of warranty.
Repair cost is $80 (minimum charge) at the local authorized station.
It's not worth that much to me since this is a 2-head and stand-alone
4-head VCR's are that price or lower.


~~~~~~~~~~~

For others looking at a Panasonic TV/VCR combo unit, I'll give you
some feedback from my own use of this one -- Purchased Dec 2002 -- low
usage for past 17 months.

I almost returned this the first day because, after taking it out and
setting it up, I found out you can't watch one channel and record
another. Since this is one of the main reasons for buying a VCR, I
should've taken it back and gotten the TV only version. Wish they had
stated that on the box. "Marketing communications" at work. Decided to
keep it and get a 2nd VCR for copying tapes, etc.

About the TV, the CRT picture is great - no complaints there. Sound is
good and there are jacks on the front panel.

When you switch channels with the remote, there is a 1/4-second
black-out which is OK during the day, hard on the eyes in a dark room.

But (and this is a big butt) I have had it 17 months, little VCR use
and, besides the tape mechanism problem, when you start to record, the
tape rewinds about 3-minutes of tape, then starts, so, unless you let
the tape run an extra 3 minutes, you can chop off the last 3 minutes
of the previous program. The way I look at it, this is one of those
"it's a pain but you get used to" problems.

The remote control is not intuitive, like their other products. I have
never had trouble learning or using many other VCRs, including my last
Panasonic, but (another big butt) this one is not very user friendly.
The buttons are not logically grouped, etc. etc. If everything else
was OK, probably would just buy a universal remote.

What else.... Panasonic usually makes such great products -- I am
still amazed at the problems with this one. I notice this one was made
in Mexico - doubt that makes any difference on the design though. I
have a Samslung TV (1992) made in Mexico that takes a licking and
keeps on ticking.
 
On 18 May 2004 10:18:46 -0700, kudzuquartetridesagin@yahoo.com (Live
Bait McKinney) wrote:

(First, if you want to contact me by email, pls send to
brotherdave@bigfoot.com -- never check yahoo.)

Greetings! Common problem. Tape stuck in the VCR.

Trying to avoid the $80 repair shop or $20 service manual (parts lists
and schematics only).
For $80 you can buy a new VCR and return/exchange that under warranty
if it craps out fast. For $80 + $20 you can even buy a better made
one although there is not really that much difference between them
once behind the covers.

Might as well use your present VCR as a learning exercise. A stuck
tape is a mechanical problem where you can actually observe the
sequence of the problem developing. Open the covers and knock
yourself out.
 
Live Bait McKinney:

This is not a do-it-yourself repair for the inexperienced. Improper
dis-assembly can cause expensive damage. Find another shop with a better
price.

As far as not being able to view one channel while recording another
channel...... you can NOT do this with any available TV-VCR combo because
they all have just one TUNER circuit that is shared between the TV and VCR.

Obviously NO manufacturer would indicate in their literature or on the box
exactly what the VCR will NOT do...... nobody does that ! For example, a
cheap mono TV won't tell you in precise words that it will not produce
stereo sound, that it doesn't have a comb filter, that it doesn't have
picture-in-picture, that it is not multi-standard and multi-voltage, that it
doesn't have A/V input and output jacks, or an S-Video jack, or SCART
connectors, etc.

Buyer beware and identify features that you want and are willing to
purchase..... the more you want, the more you will pay.
--
Best Regards,
Daniel Sofie
Electronics Supply & Repair
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


"Live Bait McKinney" <kudzuquartetridesagin@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4f45a720.0405180918.30d0f912@posting.google.com...
(First, if you want to contact me by email, pls send to
brotherdave@bigfoot.com -- never check yahoo.)

Greetings! Common problem. Tape stuck in the VCR.

Trying to avoid the $80 repair shop or $20 service manual (parts lists/
and schematics only).

Symptoms:
Turn on the power -- motor spins then stops.
Hit eject - first time, "EJECT" appears on screen but no motor or
eject.
Every time after that, no "EJECT" on screen, no sound of motor
spinning.
Same using remote control or front panel.

Tried unplugging power cable... and back in. Same story.

This is one of the TV/VCR combos (Panasonic PVQ-2512 -- similiar to
PVQ-1312W, PVQ-2012. Bought Dec 2002 - now 5 months out of warranty.
Repair cost is $80 (minimum charge) at the local authorized station.
It's not worth that much to me since this is a 2-head and stand-alone
4-head VCR's are that price or lower.


~~~~~~~~~~~

For others looking at a Panasonic TV/VCR combo unit, I'll give you
some feedback from my own use of this one -- Purchased Dec 2002 -- low
usage for past 17 months.

I almost returned this the first day because, after taking it out and
setting it up, I found out you can't watch one channel and record
another. Since this is one of the main reasons for buying a VCR, I
should've taken it back and gotten the TV only version. Wish they had
stated that on the box. "Marketing communications" at work. Decided to
keep it and get a 2nd VCR for copying tapes, etc.

About the TV, the CRT picture is great - no complaints there. Sound is
good and there are jacks on the front panel.

When you switch channels with the remote, there is a 1/4-second
black-out which is OK during the day, hard on the eyes in a dark room.

But (and this is a big butt) I have had it 17 months, little VCR use
and, besides the tape mechanism problem, when you start to record, the
tape rewinds about 3-minutes of tape, then starts, so, unless you let
the tape run an extra 3 minutes, you can chop off the last 3 minutes
of the previous program. The way I look at it, this is one of those
"it's a pain but you get used to" problems.

The remote control is not intuitive, like their other products. I have
never had trouble learning or using many other VCRs, including my last
Panasonic, but (another big butt) this one is not very user friendly.
The buttons are not logically grouped, etc. etc. If everything else
was OK, probably would just buy a universal remote.

What else.... Panasonic usually makes such great products -- I am
still amazed at the problems with this one. I notice this one was made
in Mexico - doubt that makes any difference on the design though. I
have a Samslung TV (1992) made in Mexico that takes a licking and
keeps on ticking.
 

Welcome to EDABoard.com

Sponsor

Back
Top